Classic BW CC Design versus Classic Wellcaft CC Design

[rrichar1]

I've owned a 83 Wellcraft 18 Fisherman CC for a few years and love the design but always liked the classic 80's Boston Whaler CC design as well. I think the Wellcraft is just as good but wonder why everybody thinks that the Wellcrafts design (including V20's design) are so great?

Just wondering if an 18 BW CC would outperform my 18 Wellcraft CC. I've searched and searched here but haven't found specific threads as to WHY you guys all love the Wellcraft design so much.

I've been a member here for awhile and love the site.

[bradford]

Comparing the two is like apples and oranges I think. For me the Wellcrafts provide a great deep V design that can be picked up for little money. You can't find a similar hull produced today without spending $30-40 grand. The Wellcrafts, while having a decent name for themselves, don't have the automatic premium on price like Whalers and some other manufacturers do. For what it's worth, Ray Hunt designed the V20 Hull and the original Whaler 13.

[Destroyer]

Like Bradford said, it's really an apples/oranges kinda thing. But for what it's worth, I like the ride that my V gives me over the ride that my friends BW gives him... I think the Whaler tends to pound more, and is a wetter ride than the Wellcraft. The extended Carolina Flare on the Wellcraft, as well as the deep V make for a really good ride most times. That, to me, is one of the reasons I love my V... plus, she just looks mean....They have a look, a style, that you just don't see in boats now days... And they tend to turn a lot of heads for just that reason... Just my 2 pennies worth.

[spareparts]

You will not find a boat that will do what V20 will for the money they sell for. There are plenty of better boats, but none that can compare with the value of the V for the money. I like SeaCrafts, they bring a premium now a days and most need transoms. They do ride better than a V20, but they are a bit smaller(20SC) than a V. A Mako rides better than a V, but they are heavy and tend to run slow. They take bigger motors to achieve what a V will do with the smaller engines. I think the V rides better than a 20 Whaler Outrage, but they are different type of boats, the whaler was the original bay boat with low sides. Whalers are the boat of choice for the flip artist. You won't find a 20 whaler ready for the water for under $5000. If you do, tell me about it and i'll sell it to the whaler fanatics for $10000

[Kracker Jack]

As being mentioned before the boat has minimal weight,its wide,easily customized,can use minimal H.P. to aquire effective speed,rides awesome!!! My opinion is, if I olive drabbed my v20 I could duck hunt in it one day then fish 25 to 30 miles off the beach the next day and then easily trailer it to eastern shore the day after that to go wreck fishing and still have on of the nicest looking factory "Custom Carolina" looking hulls ever to be produced. The V's are very versitle boats,and thats why I've always loved the v20. Thats my .02

[RidgeRunner]

At 18' I don't know what Whaler makes. The 17' Montauk is a great hull. The Unsinkable Legend with the cathedral hull is stable at rest for its beam. The sacrifice is the pounding. In 20' the cost of the Whaler eclipses the V-20. I love the 20' Wellcraft for ride and function. Did I mention I have a Whaler FOR SALE... Neither a classic nor under 20'.
I really like the old large Whalers, like the 27' Full Cabin. Put a couple outboards on a bracket and that would make a serious Grouper Boat, if we were allowed to keep Grouper that is. Interesting thread.

[rrichar1]

Thanks for all the replies, I think ya'll have answered most of my questions.

I have a 1982 Center Console 18 Fisherman not a V20 type hull. I LOVE the hull and plan on keeping it and strictly fish near shore Galveston bay and the farthest I go is to the jetties because I fish alone the majority of the time. So what I'm really after is how you guys think it stacks up to a vintage 80's era BW Outrage Center Console design.

And I'm looking for confirmation on the things I've observed and like about the boat:

- Built really stout (is it really on par quality wise with BW?)
- I don't like the notch/cut out in the transom
- I love the flares (Carolina?) and think it's a very dry riding design
- The transom in this boat seems solid.
- I agree with the previous posters and think this design is every bit as good as the BW and is right there as far as build quality. There's a reason this 30 year old boat is still seaworthy without any major renovations. It's just not as sexy as the BW name.
- I make enough money in that I could afford a brand new $30-$40K boat but I choose THIS boat because of it's design/heritage. I'm just cheap and have two daughters in college

Some history:

My father bought the boat for $800 fixed it up decided he didn't want it and gave it to me (my 2nd boat). It has an 89 Johnson 120 HP he rebuilt which I hate and plan on someday replacing it with a Tohatsu/Nissan 115 HP TLDI. We replaced the fuel tank last year. We are probably at least the 3rd owners and it's sat outside most of it's life so it really needs a new gel coat as it's looks really bad but the boat is functional and I don't care about looks. My plan is to invest in a new motor and then if I ever get tired of the Wellcraft buy a new/used hull and transfer the motor to it. My other boat is an aluminum Alumacraft Fish/Ski with a Nissan carbed 90HP which I've had for 10 years and regularly fish Galveston Bay in. Hence the preference for Nissan/Tohatsu products.

[buckleyjr]

I owned an 85 Whaler Outrage before I got my V21. The outrages, classic whalers and montauks are classic boats - collectibles. The overall quality of the whaler is better, in my opinion. But the deep v Hunt hull of the wellcraft v20s are also special. They are so much better in the chop of the Barnegate Bay. And for some reason they dont really design them like this anymore (for under 100k that is - check out the Harrier 25 by Hunt Yachts to see what a modern day v25 looks like).

Both are beautiful, but the v21 is perfect for a day on the water with the family. But If I lived on the water, I'd love to have one of each.

[captpete13]

I owned a 17' whaler before my v20. I used to work for a boston whaler dealer. The newer boats are nothing but unsinkable sea rays in my opinon. The classic hulls do pound but they are solid. I love my v20 and its ride which I think is just as wet as any whaler. And I have driven just about every model whaler made. We have 4 whalers at towboat us. a 17, a 22 commercial a 25, and a 27 commercial. They make a great work boat. I'm not sure how a v20 would be in the same situation. Our local sea tow had a v20 for a little while but he capsized it a while back and ended up getting rid of it. I'm not bashing the v20. I love my boat. But it can sink and whalers can't. To some people that means more than anything. I have had my v20 out is some nasty weather and heavy sea's. and it handled it like a champ. But then again so did my 17 whaler. Except every time I got off my whaler I was a little shorter then I was before I got on it.

[Bruce]

We have a 1985 Wellcraft 180 Fisherman. I'm a yacht broker, and for the money nothing touches its quality.

In 2006 the 180 was due for an upgrade or a new owner. After looking at all the new boats out there... 30K later we basically had a brand new 180 Fisherman Wellcraft completely restored, brand new Suzuki 140 4 stroke and no expense was spared. Based on what 30K will buy you in todays market theres nothing that expresses the class, construction and lines that boat has. My dad bought it in 1989, we fished it, chartered it, island hopped it, and now its here at my house, and when the time is right and he is old enough, it will be my son's.